How pgowder started their web page design (coded) journey

Summary

This contest is to create a new, update look for PowWows.com. The goal of this project is to produce a look for the site that is similar to the existing look with a fresh twist creating a brighter, cleaner interface that loads quicker.

Company name

PowWows.com

What inspires you and how do you envision the design for your business?

The current templates used for the design use nested tables to control layout. The new design should use CSS for layout and other design elements, and HTML for the coding. The code should be complaint with all standards.

The goal of this project is to produce a look for the site that is similar to the existing look with a fresh twist creating a brighter, cleaner interface that loads quicker.

The new design should incorporate design elements from the existing site such as the geometric patterns and colors. But we are open to changes in color. Be creative! If you choose to change the colors, you will need to produce the buttons and graphics we currently use in other application (vbulletin, photopost, etc) with your new colors.

In the current design each section-community, galleries, etc uses a different geometric pattern. Please use this technique and/or others to denote the different sections.

This does not mean you need to do a template for each section! The final code only needs to be 2 pages. The first page is a redo of the homepage, the second is a template to use for the other sections. Except for the homepage everything uses a third party script like vBulletin or photopost. The template for the secondary pages.needs to be coded to be inserted into vBulletin or other scripts. This template will be used in all the other sections of the site, but you'll need to have different graphics or other elements to give each section a unique look.

For the homepage template please include all the content that is currently displayed on our homepage. The backend for that content already exists.

Pages should be designed with a fluid width of 90-95% with a gradient faded background behind. The design must incorporate places for advertisements. This includes a leaderboard at the top and sky on the side. We'll include Google AdSense ads inside the site also, if you have suggestions for placement, please include them.

Other elements from the current site that need to carry forward are
-the rotating image near the top, but can be used differently or in different sizes
-the use of different geometric patterns to desinate different sections of the site
-a sidebar menu
-prominent placement of the links that are now at the top - forget password, register, search, etc.

The winning bidder is not responsible for installing the template. However, you will need to help troubleshoot any problems or conflicts with existing CSS.

Ill post in the next message examples of sites I like.

Preferred payment method is PayPal.

The winner will received 1/2 when the design idea is finalized and psd's are delivered. And final payment when design and coding is finished--that includes testing it on the live site. I will not make you wait until I implement the design on the whole site. However I want to make sure that I can get all the pieces to fit together.

I will post a sitemap of the site showing the organization of the site.